10 Important Lessons That Traveling The World Teaches You

Traveling the world teaches you important lessons that no four walls of a classroom ever will. When you travel and meet people from around the world you realize just how small you are and how little of the world you know. Traveling lets you share experiences and make unforgettable memories with people you barely know. These people will become part of your life story. If you’re fortunate enough, you’ll meet them again in a different place and time. I truly believe that traveling is the best education you could ever have. Here are ten important lessons that traveling the world teaches you!

~ Living in the moment on a tiny island in Fiji ~

1. Travel teaches you to go with the flow

When I was on a field school in India we ended up being stuck in the foothills of the Himalayas for four extra days. The monsoon rains had washed out the only road that led into where we were. There was nothing we could do about it and we just had to accept our situation. Sometimes things don’t always go according to plan while traveling and that’s okay. Learning to “roll with the punches” is important in life in general.

~ Not a terrible place to be stuck for a few extra days! ~

2. Travel teaches you to leave your comfort zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone is the best way to grow and traveling is one guaranteed way to do it. You will be put in situations that might make you feel uncomfortable, like meeting new people at a hostel or going on a solo hike. You will feel awkward at times but great things never came from comfort zones.

3. Travel teaches you how to become friends with strangers

Traveling exposes you to people from all over the world. If you are open to meeting new people you will soon have friends from different corners of the world. Perhaps you will even end up traveling with some of these people and share unforgettable experiences with them. I’ve met a lot of people during my travels, some that I only spent a day with and some that I ended up traveling with for weeks and even months. The relationships you build with these people will be some of the most memorable friendships you’ll ever have.

~ Somewhere along the east coast of Australia with new friends ~

4. Travel teaches you to be ‘street smart’

Traveling will teach you to be aware of your surroundings and notice if something is off. You will constantly be surrounded by people you don’t know and it’s up to you to make the right choices. Traveling teaches you to follow your gut instinct in situations that don’t quite feel right. Having ‘street smarts’ is important in all aspects of life and especially while traveling.

5. Travel teaches you that less is more

Traveling makes you realize that you don’t need a lot of stuff to create happiness. Once you have gone traveling and lived out of a backpack you will no longer see the point in having a lot of material things. Travel has made me re-evaluate my priorities in life and I’ve learned to value experiences over anything else.

~ Trekking in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand ~

6. Travel teaches you to be independent

When I was 18 I backpacked through Australia on my own and it helped me become more independent and confident. Finding my own way from airports to hostels and all around the country was not always easy but it made me realize that I can depend on myself if I have to. In life we usually lean on others for support and approval but there is something liberating knowing that you can do it on your own.

~ Hiking in the Blue Mountains, Australia ~

7. Travel teaches you to be resilient

Especially when traveling alone, there will probably come a time when you are really homesick or lonely. Traveling the world will teach you how to adapt to new surroundings. You’ll learn to bounce back from these feelings of loneliness and focus on all the amazing things you are doing.

8. Travel allows you to grow as a person

Traveling widens your mindset and allows you to grow as a person. You will start to see things from different perspectives and it will make you a more well-rounded individual.

~ Evening views from the sky flying into Hong Kong ~

9. Travel teaches you to be humble

Traveling can be an extremely humbling experience. You might visit places where people are happy with way less then what you have. During my travels in India I was fortunate enough to visit rural villages and talk to families about their daily life. They were incredibly welcoming and invited us into their homes and hearts. They fed us and shared their stories. Traveling the world opens your eyes to different people and cultures and makes you realize how incredibly lucky you are.

10. Travel teaches you that life is an adventure

Once you start traveling you will never want to stop going on new adventures. You’ll realize how big our world is and how amazing it is to meet people from different places. Traveling the world teaches you that life is not meant to be lived in one place. Life is an adventure and the world is waiting for you to show up and explore!

~ Taj Mahal, India ~

I honestly believe that traveling has made me a better person. Every experience whether good or bad has shaped who I am today.

I hope this post has inspired you to travel the world and explore new places!

Traveling the world teaches you important lessons that you might never learn if you stay in one place your entire life. So what are you waiting for?

XO Sandy

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A Swiss-Canadian girl on a mission to find her true passion in life! Lover of travel, photography, endless cups of coffee and good conversations! Excited to share my expat adventures and travels abroad with you.